Beretta Tomcat?

D

Daddycat

New member
Looking for feedback about this pistol. Seems to me that I've read mixed reviews on it in the past. I'm considering a pocket pistol for my wife for when she doesn't want to pack her G30. She does not care for the P32. The Seecamp and the Guardian are not options for a variety of reasons. She liked the feel of the Tomcat we looked at today. So those of you with first hand experience with this pistol, what do you say? Any feedback appreciated.
Daddycat

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"A rigid investment in flexability is but another closed system of thinking"
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Daddycat:
Looking for feedback about this pistol. Seems to me that I've read mixed reviews on it in the past.
[/quote]

I got one for my wife, but I carry it more often then her.
I've read other posts criticizing this gun, but I've never had any problems.
The only thing I don't care for is that the empties come right back at ya!
 
Iv'e heard enough Tomcat feedback to be cautious. Many Tomcats have had cracked frames BEFORE 300 rounds. Life expectancy is only 1,000. I hear its a great gun, but the cracked frame issue gets me nervous. The reports I read were from a few years back (source: Gun Tests) so I don't know if Beretta solved this problem or not?

[This message has been edited by Quantum Singularity (edited September 24, 2000).]
 
I'd recommend Colt Mustang Pocketlite 380 over the Beretta. The lack of reliability and extractor-less design (hard to clear a dud round) would worry me about the Tomcat.
 
I've been carrying a Tomcat for over 3 years. I've never had a problem with mine. I replaced the factory grip panels with Pearce grips.

Although I've never had one, misfires are easy to clear. Just tip up the barrel, turn the gun upside down and let gravity extract the cartridge from the chamber, close the barrel and cycle the slide. A little more effort is required to get the gun back into operation, but the first three steps are identical to the method in which I unload the gun when I get home.

Misfires with small Beretta rimfire pistols are a whole different story. The firing pin, when it strikes the rim of the cartridge, effectively swages a misfired cartridge to the breech, and requires the cartridge to be pryed out of the chamber or a rod inserted down the bore to push the cartridge out. This doesn't occur with Beretta's centerfire models.

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/s/ Shawn Dodson
Firearms Tactical Institute
http://www.firearmstactical.com
 
Sometimes I think about getting a Tomcat too. However, the one I'd consider is the newer "wide body" stainless model. I'm planning to take a look at the new Titanium Tomcat that is supposed to be out next month. I've had a stainless 25ACP Jetfire for a few months and I'm impressed with the quality and reliabiity of the little pistol. I keep it loaded with Magsafes.

Will

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Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
I had two of the early models -- the first replaced under warranty by the factory.

Seemed to be good guns. Accurate. Very accurate. And after the trigger smoothed up (about 1000 rounds), good trigger.

The problem, with mine, was firing pins. I avoided dry firing (per the manual) and used a snap cap -- but the firing pin slams forward so hard, it still managed to disintegrate with some regularity.

I sent the first gun back after the pin died, and three months later called to find out what was going on. They told me the gun was being replaced -- but they were out of product. A month later I got a new one.

Shot this one a lot. At the range, one day, the slide locked back, off track, and I had to use a nylon mallet to free it. No damage, and it functioned fine afterwards, but I had lost confidence in the gun. Sold it and bought a Kel-Tec P11. A better gun, larger round, only slightly larger, just as easy to conceal. Harder to shoot, though.

I personally know of 5 Tomcats that had to be returned to the factory, and several of them were sold immediately upon return. The only folks who REALLY like them don't seem to shoot them much.

If they've worked out the bugs, and the new stainless ones are improved, they could be good guns.

(I now carry a Star Firestar Plus -- a bit heavier than the Kel-Tec, but about the same size.)

If you've convinced that .32 acp is the way to go, check out the Kel-Tec P-32. By all counts, the best .32 money can buy, and its a bit less expensive than the Tomcat. Will shoot anything, including Plus P .32 ammo.
 
Put seven rounds through my Tom Cat Sat. During cleaning found the slide cracked! Don't know if it happened that day or before and just hadn't noticed it. Calling the factory today.

My daughter put 40 rounds through the P-32 the same day. Worked fine. Wants a P-32 instead. I like the P-32, but my other one is at that factory. Haven't had good lluck with pistols this month. Had serious problems with four. What gives? I really don't think it's me.
 
Another dis-satisfied Tomcat owner.

Got one for the Girlfriend - I would definitely not recommend this pistol to anyone. It's a P-O-S.

Trigger is nasty. Won't always fire! Sometimes just makes a clicking noise and that's it. It will be traded in for whatever I can get for it on the next pistol purchase... Sure, I could send it back, but it's the one purchase I wish that I had never made, so it's outta here!

Better luck to you...
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Patrick Seeber:
It will be traded in for whatever I can get for it on the next pistol purchase... Sure, I could send it back, but it's the one purchase I wish that I had never made, so it's outta here!

Better luck to you...[/quote]

Don't cut your nose off to spite your face!

Send it back -- get it refurbished -- and THEN trade it in or sell it!!
 
I wanted one, then a buddy bought one. WORST TRIGGER I've ever squeezed. DA didn't break until the trigger was almost touching the back of the trigger guard. If you pinch the excess skin of your finger between there, NO BANG! Had 3 ftf's in the first (and only) trip to the range. He eventually traded it for a Taurus 85UL stainless, and says it's the best trade he's ever made.
 
In our police academy class the Tomcat (an approved off-duty weapon) was maligned by the ordinance staff as a jam monkey. However, as it is very small and Beretta is a big name, 5 (I think) recruits decided to risk it and purchase one. All but one were returned shortly thereafter, and the Tomcat has been known as the 'Jamcat' since. They were horrible little guns. No matter what was fed to them they jammed quite regularly. As to the last, I cannot say. As far as I know the guy still has it and has had no problems, either with cracks or feed reliability.

FWIW,
Mike

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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
 
I had a tomcat. It was not very reliable but it averaged 2 to 4 malfunctions per 100 rounds. The firing pin broke and I sent it to Beretta to be repaired they sent me a new gun. Apparently more was wrong than a broken firing pin. The new one had the same reliability problems. I got rid of it when I started working as a cop as our department requires a minimum caliber of 38 special or 380 auto as a back up weapon.
PAT

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I intend to go into harms way.
 
I have had a stainless Tomcat for about 7 months now. No problems at all and I am very pleased with the accuracy and trigger job.

It did jam a few time on Hydra-Shocks in the first few mags, but after breaking in it feeds everything fine.

Janvs
 
It's a shame that you have ruled out the Keltec P32, since I feel it's a much better choice than the Tomcat. It's smaller, lighter, and has less felt recoil. Come to think of it, what's not to like?
 
Johnwill,
Thanks for your thoughts. Actually I agree with you and I do carry a P32 as a backup/pocketpistol. Its my wife that doesn't
care for it. However it has not been without problems. I had to send it back to have the trigger bar replaced shortly after I bought it. She has been making noises about reconsidering it after reading these posts.
Thanks again for yours and everyone elses comments.
Daddycat

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"A rigid investment in flexability is but another closed system of thinking"
 
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